How Listening to Users Brought Clarity to Assistive TechnoloPublished：2017-10-18

Hearing impairment is perhaps the most common disability
affecting Americans—20 percent or more by some counts—
yet it receives far less attention than more apparent
conditions. As a result, accommodating those with hearing
impairment has generally not been as high of a priority
among contractors, venue owners, and the public at large
as it could be. This is changing, as awareness has increased
and more advanced assistive listening solutions have been
brought to market, but it is still a slow uphill climb to get
the industry on board. This has become the central mission
of Listen Technologies since its founding in the late ’90s, and we are
proud to be helping drive the dialogue while serving the marketplace.

NAME:Cory SchaefferTITLE: Vice President of Business DevelopmentCOMPANY:Listen TechnologiesDIRECTION: The essence of Listen has been driven by Schaeffer’s passion for connecting people to positive experiences. This passion has not only fueled Listen’s growth worldwide, but more importantly it has influenced the culture at Listen Technologies.

We recently debuted our iDSP (Intelligent Digital Signal Processing)
products, and we believe them to be a game-changer. In creating
these solutions, we considered all aspects of how the product would
be used, focusing on the end-user experience and, at the venue, ease
of dispensing, inventory management, and battery management—all
based on input from consultants, system integrators, venue owners,
and end users. The iDSP 72MHz receiver revolutionizes how an RF
system works, offering precise clarity with 20 dB less hiss than other
RF receivers. The result is a significantly improved listening experience.

In the years leading up to these products’ introduction, I learned
quite a bit by doing my own field research on assistive listening. I made
a habit of asking to use the solutions offered by different venues. I got
to experience our products and those of our competitors in the real
world. I asked venues and those with hearing loss what problems they
regularly face. Venues noted problems with battery life—for instance, a
performance of Les Miserables lasts three hours, so venues would have
to swap out a device for one with a fully charged battery at intermission.
Because of this, we knew the iDSP would need a lithium ion battery,
offering longer and more
reliable performance.

I also found that some
venues, although well
meaning, did not have a real
grasp on the Americans with
Disabilities Act guidelines,
which state that 25 percent
of assistive listening devices
need to be compatible with
hearing aids and telecoil
components. They were
simply not held accountable
to full compliance to that end.
So with our iDSP products,
we included an integrated
neck loop to serve people
who have hearing aids and
cochlear implants with
telecoils—they’re ALL hearing
aid-compatible, so venues
will be in full compliance
without having to worry about it.

We also tried to focus on other features some might overlook. Those
with hearing loss understandably don’t want to draw undue attention,
so we made the elements small, light, and easily concealable (half the
size and weight of anything else on the market). Additionally, the units
can be easily programmed and designated for different “zones” and
users. For example, instead of “Channel A” and “Channel B” marking
different frequencies, the devices can be labeled “Sanctuary”, “Cry
Room”, etc. We also made the battery changing station multi-featured
and foolproof, with a number of intuitive settings and features. And
perhaps most importantly, we made sure that the sound quality set a
new standard for assistive listening devices in the field.

We (and others in the market) are listening to venues, contractors,
and those using the devices day-to-day. We have responded with a set
of products that better serve each of these parties. But true change will
come only when contractors and venues take a more vested interest in
offering the right solutions to their patrons. Again, no one person is at
fault for a widespread pattern of negligence and ignorance about these
topics—it’s a series of problems that has gone unchecked for years. But
we are listening, and things are changing.

Cory Schaeffer is a founder and vice president of business development for Listen
Technologies. She is a thought leader within the AV industry, building awareness about
hearing loss, the ADA standards, legislative compliance, and hearing loss prevention.
She served two terms on the Board of Directors for InfoComm International, and she
also serves on the planning board for Women in AV, as well as the NSCA Educational
Foundation, which establishes scholarships for people wanting to enter into the industry.
She also volunteers on the LoopUtah committee, based in Salt Lake City, UT.